Value Without the Price Tag: How MIT Sloan Assists Low-Income MBA Students

It’s no secret that attending an MBA program can often come with a hefty price tag—and when it comes to one of the top MBA programs in the country, you can guarantee you’ll be paying a lot for the high value of that program. At the MIT Sloan School of Management, rated as the fourth best business school in the country by U.S. News and World Report, one year of tuition will set you back $68,250. Factoring in additional fees, such as insurance, food, and supplies, the annual cost is upward of $100,000.

For ambitious students with skills that qualify them for the best-of-the-best MBA programs, it’s a shame that money should be a determining factor in what program they can attend. Thankfully, most business programs work to ensure that all students—regardless of income—are able to attend the program that fits their qualifications. At MIT Sloan, there are a variety of ways for low-income students to qualify for financial aid based entirely on their financial need.

Below are just a few of the opportunities the school provides for low-income students to pay for their MBA, ensuring that the most talented business students can attend their school regardless of finances.

Loans

Once a student is accepted to MIT Sloan, he or she will begin a three-tiered financial aid process to determine financial need and how best to address it. The admissions process itself is need-blind, ensuring that financial circumstance will not be a factor in whether or not a student is admitted to the program.

After they are admitted, students should file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and Graduate Loan Application, which will help determine their eligibility for federal and private loans by working alongside the MIT Student Financial Services.

Assistantships

A number of MBA students each year may also have the opportunity to be a teaching or research assistant. These roles, which may include grading assignments/exams, working directly with students, or assisting with research both help students pay for school as well as provide important experience and exposure to the research and education programs at Sloan.

Starting in the second semester, students will also have access to teaching assistant (TA) and residential assistant (RA) positions as well.

Fellowships

Each year, MIT Sloan offers a number of competitive fellowships/scholarship to incoming and second-year MBA students. Although these scholarships are merit-based rather than need, they provide low-income students another excellent opportunity to subsidize their education and often include additional ways to gain experience and improve one’s career.

Aside from the Legatum Fellowship and the MIT Public Service Center Fellowships, which have their own application process, all admitted students to MIT will be considered for fellowships that they are eligible for, and do not require a separate application. The fellowships may range in support from $10,000 to full tuition coverage.

You can find more information about the variety of fellowships offered at MIT Sloan here.

Additional Scholarships

A number of other scholarships are available for students at MIT Sloan that may be given out based on a wide variety of factors such as merit, identity, or nationality. These scholarships may range from funding for tuition and coverage of school-related fees to mentorship and the chance to build relationships with industry professionals. For the most part, these scholarships must be applied to separately after admittance to MIT Sloan. More information on these scholarships can be found here.

Even after need-based loans and assistantships, these scholarships may help further bridge the gap in costs for students attending MIT Sloan. These many opportunities for funding ensure that the most talented students can attend the best-fit school for them, allowing MBAs to focus on getting their degree rather than getting their wallets out.